The official blog of American Veteran Magazine, the national quarterly publication of AMVETS.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

First Annual Ms. Veteran America Competition

The first annual Ms.
Veteran America competition was held on Oct. 7, 2012 at the Pentagon
Ritz-Carlton in Arlington, Va. Contestants were selected from three judging
rounds held in Arlington, Va.; Austin, Texas; and Irvine, Calif. Out of
hundreds of women who auditioned, 37 were selected to compete in the
competition. The judges represented a variety of personalities, from American
Veteran magazine contributor Vernice Armor and Under Secretary of Benefits for
the Department of Veterans Affairs Brigadier General Allison Hickey to Miss
Virginia USA 2011 Nikki Poteet. Adding to the star power, Sue Downes, the first
female double amputee from Afghanistan, and Donnell Rawlings, an actor and Air
Force veteran, hosted the event. Special guests included 2012 Paralympian
medalist Angela Madsen and the 16th Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent.

All 37 contestants graced the stage in evening dresses and
the top 10 women were announced and preceded to perform in the talent
competition. Judges selected the top 10 contestants based on the ability to
answer military questions, beauty, and their stage presence. The top ten
contestants included: Heidi Amato, Ann Curtis, Tyra Everett, Denyse Gordon,
Mary Ann Hotaling, Gladys Hughes, Keia Mays, Kimberly Miller, Alyse Partridge,
and Stephanie Way. From reciting monologues to singing, the top 10 women
brought smiles and laughs to the judges and entire audience. Denyse Gordon, an
Air Force Reserve veteran, was crowned Miss Veteran America 2012, after
advancing from the talent round to the final question interview. As her talent,
she performed a flapper style dance routine in an old Army uniform. Stephanie
Way, a former member of the Army National Guard, received first runner-up.
Gladys Hughes, a World War II Coast Guard veteran and crowd favorite, was
second runner-up.

While the Ms. Veteran America competition focused on
celebrating women who have served our country, the competition also functioned
as a fundraiser for Final Salute Inc.,
an organization that provides housing and aid to homeless female veterans and
their children. As female veteran homelessness continues to increase as the
homeless male veteran population decreases, this problem needs to be addressed
by opening shelters that cater specifically to the needs of military sexual
trauma victims, women suffering with PTSD, and women with children. Final
Salute, Inc., has opened transitory homes in Fairfax, Va., and is currently
building a new home in Alexandria, Va., that will be opening on Veterans Day
2012. To raise money, the contestants petitioned for donations from friends,
family, and social media followers, and gained a significant following after
Hughes appeared on Fox
News and explained the purpose and importance of the Ms. Veteran America
competition. As of today, Oct. 10, 2012, they raised $30,892 to help female
veterans stay off the street.

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